If your goal is dialing in the thermostat to find energy savings, here are 6 tips to make sure you are getting the maximum thermostat energy savings when you’re running the furnace in the winter and air conditioner in the summer.

If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, have one installed. Programmable thermostats adjust the temperature automatically throughout the day, saving you as much as 33% on heating costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Savers Program, families can cut their annual heating bills by one-tenth just by setting the thermostat down 10 percent to 15 percent for eight hours a day. Another plus-programmable thermostats are easy-to-operate, have a digital interface and the newer models are mercury-free.

Check the location of your thermostat. Make sure it’s installed on an interior wall away from vents, doorways, windows, direct sunlight or any place that would cause it to register an incorrect temperature.

Customize your thermostat to your schedule, but make sure it’s set to at least 55 degrees even during long periods when when you are away from home or when you’re asleep. You’ll save on energy costs without the risk of frozen water pipes during cold weather.

While you’re at home, try to keep the temperature between 65 and 68 F, and wear socks and sweaters instead of cranking up the heat.

It’s a common myth to think that the higher you turn your thermostat the faster the furnace will warm your home. Give it some time—the furnace will deliver heat at the same rate no matter how high the thermostat is set. Depending on the size of your house, the type of windows you have, how high the ceilings are, and other factors, it can take your house nearly an hour to warm up to the temperature set on the thermostat.

Adding a humidifier to your HVAC system will add more moisture to the air. Moist air feels warmer, so your home will feel warmer even though you have set your thermostat lower.